Sisters mock trial team secures state berth

The Sisters High School Mock Trial team placed second among six teams in the Central Oregon region, earning a berth at the state competition set for March 14-15, at the Mark Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Portland.

The reaction on hearing the verdict of the team's selection was shocked silence followed by whoops of joy.

"I'm just so proud of the kids," said coach Mary Thomas. "It's our fourth year having the club, and this is the first time we've qualified to go on to state. Our hard work paid off."

Summit High School's "Green Team" placed first in the competition. Other schools represented included La Pine, Madras and Redmond.

Mock Trial, in its 22nd year, is offered throughout the United States and is sponsored by the Classroom Law Project (CLP), which also oversees the high school program called "We the People.'

Teams from throughout Oregon worked on the same case "State v. Campbell" in which a student named Casey Campbell is accused of planting a bomb at his high school with the intent to do harm to another student, Sawyer Simpson. The defense is trying to prove that in fact it is Simpson, a bully, who orchestrated the entire bomb scare in an attempt to frame Campbell for turning him in for bullying.

Up to 16 teams are expected to square off at the state competition, with the winner advancing to nationals scheduled for May 8-10 in Delaware. West Linn High School is the defending Oregon champion.

More than 90 schools and more than 1,500 students participate in Mock Trial each year, according to CLP. Teams must formulate plans for the prosecution and the defense using materials provided by CLP. At the competition each team takes at least one turn on each side and is scored on the basis of its performance, not whether they win or lose the actual case.

Students play the parts of witnesses, attorneys, clerks and bailiffs. Volunteer judges and attorneys act as judges and juries. Darryl Doke, a retired attorney living in Sisters, assists the team as its legal expert.

"This is our most academic club activity offered at Sisters High School and takes about the same level of commitment as being in a sport or taking another class," said Thomas. "Students learn critical thinking skills, courtroom procedure, teamwork and a lot about judicial roles and processes. Members of the team include Ryanne Conrads, Emi Conrads, Erin Kanzig, Claire Kanzig, Jenny Irwin, Sydney Randall, Jessica Heath, Emily Rickards, Dylan Hicks, Seth Rodriguez, Jake Lasken, Hayden Stein, Sam Fullhart and Benton Urquhart.